Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After a day off, the Dodgers and Diamondbacks got their series underway by playing a close one that went through the middle innings tied and then went back and forth late, with Shohei Ohtani delivering a big blow, then a Blake Treinen error and a Joc Pederson homer turning the tables. However, it was the Dodgers who got the last laugh thanks to three-consecutive hits with two-outs in the 9th, concluding with a Teoscar Hernandez walk-off single for a 6-5 victory.
Fuckers. pic.twitter.com/Xcf7UInjj0
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 3, 2024
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It was the Dodgers that started the scoring in the 1st against Ryne Nelson, thanks again to a trend of outfield defense collapsing against them. Shohei led the game off with a “double” that Lourdes Gurriel Jr. misplayed, and then two outs later a Teoscar double (and an error by Corbin Carroll) drove him in to make it 1-0 early.
Vote Teoscar!
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 3, 2024
?: https://t.co/SSqaZ7aq1V pic.twitter.com/uI9KTpi8yF
After a half chance in the 2nd — when Chris Taylor stayed hot with a two-out single and reached second on a wild pitch — led to nothing, back-to-back singles from Will Smith and Freddie Freeman cornered the runners with one out in the 3rd. Teoscar then grounded a ball back to the pitcher and beat out the attempted double play turn for an RBI to make it 2-0.
On the other end, Bobby Miller was still struggling with command, but didn’t allow a hit through three frames. Well that ended quickly, as a single led the 4th off and was followed by a homer from — who else? — Christian Walker to tie things up at 2-2.
Christian Walker has 15 career HR at Dodger Stadium, all since the start of 2018
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 3, 2024
that’s 4 more than anyone else as a visitor there in that span https://t.co/Dfm3AgGUZc
A pair of singles and a walk then loaded the bases with nobody out, and things looked bleak, but a strikeout, pop out, and groundout followed to help Miller escape without further damage.
He then bounced back with a clean 5th to complete his outing: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 90 Pitches.
Bobby Miller is pumped after getting peak Barry Bonds out. pic.twitter.com/XUdurSGIEK
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 3, 2024
First out of the pen in the 6th was Daniel Hudson, who allowed a single and struck out two in a scoreless frame. Alex Vesia was next in the 7th, and after an infield single and a sacrifice bunt, Ketel Marte singled off Miguel Rojas‘ glove to drive in the go-ahead run. Vesia actually gave up a third hit in the inning, another soft single, but eventually got out of it. 3-2 Diamondbacks lead.
As all this was going on the Dodgers offense was really struggling. While they got a single and then a two-out walk that knocked Nelson out in the 6th, that amounted to nothing, and things were getting late in a hurry.
Thankfully, Ohtani came to the rescue. After a Gavin Lux lead-off walk, Ohtani took a 1-0 slider and destroyed it deep into the night for a 4-3 lead.
SHO ME THE HOMER. pic.twitter.com/FqiDHD2qeF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 3, 2024
He seemed to enjoy that one, though I hope the kid who got hit is okay. All the adults really let him down there.
I thought it was the seat, oh no. https://t.co/68Jdu0vsmS
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 3, 2024
Treinen then entered to protect the lead in the 8th, but he continued to struggle a bit. He issued a lead-off walk, then made a throwing error on a comebacker that allowed the tying run to score. While he settled in for three consecutive outs, the damage was done by his throw and it was 4-4.
After an 8th where the Dodgers got an infield single and a sac bunt to start a threat but couldn’t take advantage, Evan Phillips then entered in the 9th. After a strikeout on three pitches, he got Joc down 0-2 and then spun a cutter that he lined to right for the go-ahead homer and a 5-4 D-backs lead.
After D-backs closer Paul Sewald got two outs to start the 9th, things looked just about over. But the Dodgers weren’t dead yet, and Will doubled off the wall in center, then — down to his last strike — Freddie doubled him in to tie the game. Not letting fans breathe, Teoscar followed with a single to walk it off in a 6-5 win!
And here's Teoscar Hernandez's walk-off single and the celebration. pic.twitter.com/jUUxvAB0jW
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 3, 2024
Fun.
wheeee! pic.twitter.com/SkEx6wedRa
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 3, 2024
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 53-33 |
| Padres | 46-43 (8.5 GB) |
Same two teams, same place, same time tomorrow at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Gavin Stone looking to continue his Rookie Of The Year campaign against … well, I don’t know because scheduled starter Jordan Montgomery was just put on the IL.
